Students and staff pitch big ideas for cash funding
16 November 2016
Students and staff with big ideas that can transform lives will pitch for instant funds in Cardiff University’s annual Da Vinci Awards.
Winning presenters will walk away with up to £3,000 to help turn their research ideas into economic and social reality.
The Awards – on 23 November – showcase Cardiff University’s young innovation talent and help forge links between the University and private and public sector backers.
Last year, 20 presenters gave three-minute pitches to more than 100 guests across a range of topics from ”Improving Airline Safety” to ”Using Engineering to Save Babies”. One former student already has a thriving business developing wind turbines.
Many presenters come from multidisciplinary research teams working across University Schools, and include staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students.
The event, open to the public, is designed to match fresh ideas to seed funding with a minimum amount of hassle.
“We devised the Da Vinci Awards to make fast, instant, paper-free funding available to both staff and students to encourage innovation from research."
Professor David Barrow, organiser of the Da Vinci Awards, said: “Last year’s event was a real success. A high proportion of winners came from our own postgraduate and undergraduate students, with many from Engineering, Medicine and the Biological Sciences. This year, I’m hoping that a broader range of Schools within the University will get involved.”
Cardiff University recently announced a £135m Cardiff Innovation Campus development to spearhead innovation in the city, due to be completed in 2019.
The Da Vinci Innovation and Impact Awards 2016 take place at 17.30hrs on Wednesday 23 November at the KuKu Club, Park Plaza Hotel, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.
Students wishing to present should email Professor David Barrow to register their pitch idea before the event.
To collect or reserve a ticket, contact Aderyn Reid, Room S2.04, Cardiff School of Engineering, Queen’s Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff. CF24 3AA. Telephone: +44 (0)29 2087 4930.
